CGF visits India, IOA likely to bid for Commonwealth Games 2030

Hosting the 2036 Olympics is India’s ultimate ambition, but before that acquiring the hosting experience is important, so among several other events, India is now considering a bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

India last hosted the CWG in 2010.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) expressed its willingness to bid for the Games during an informal discussion with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Chris Jenkins and chief executive Katie Sadlier, who were on a visit to India to explore the possibility of hosting the centenary edition, reported Indian Express.

The inaugural edition of the CWG was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. At the time, it was known as the British Empire Games. 

In recent times, CWG has struggled to find hosts. The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow after the Australian city of Brisbane pulled out citing rising costs of hosting the Games.

Among the possible Indian contenders for the CWG 2030 are Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar.

During the meeting held on the sidelines of the 38th National Games in Dehradun, Jenkins held discussions with IOA president PT Usha.

The CGF set a March 31 deadline for the countries willing to bid for the CWG 2030. This means India will have little time to reach a decision.

During his India visit, Jenkins spent three days in Ahmedabad, where he met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and senior government officials.

During these discussions, the state reiterated its long-term vision of hosting the 2036 Olympics and conducting global sporting events in the build-up.

With Gujarat stepping up its preparation to bid for the 2036 Olympics by upscaling its sports infrastructure, the CGF officials expressed their satisfaction with the hosting capabilities of the state.